Husband charged with murder in 2004 Westminster stabbing

Feb. 5, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Ryan Girgis, left, and Richard Girgis speak about their father Magdi Girgis being charged with the murder of their mother, Ariet Girgis, at a press conference Tuesday at the Westminster Police Department. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Senior Deputy District Attorney Sonia Balleste, left, and Sgt. Cliff Williams discuss the charging of Magdi Girgis, not shown, with the 2004 murder of his wife Ariet. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Westminster Police Chief Kevin Baker speaks to the press Tuesday about the 2004 stabbing death of Ariet Girgis. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Westminster Police Chief Kevin Baker speaks to the press Tuesday about the 2004 stabbing death of Ariet Girgis. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Ryan Girgis, left, and Richard Girgis speak about their father Magdi Girgis being charged with the murder of their mother, Ariet Girgis, at a press conference Tuesday at the Westminster Police Department. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Ariet Girgis was stabbed to death in 2004. On Tuesday, the Westminster Police Department charged her then-husband, Magdi, with murder. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Magdi Girgis was charged with the 2004 murder of his wife, Ariet, Tuesday. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A poster board shows Magdi, left, and Ariet Girgis as well as the home where prosecutors believe Ariet was murdered in 2004. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Ryan Girgis, left, and Richard Girgis speak about their father Magdi Girgis being charged with the murder of their mother, Ariet Girgis, at a press conference Tuesday at the Westminster Police Department.ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

WESTMINSTER – A man accused of hiring people to kill his estranged wife to avoid divorce costs and losing his medical license has been charged with murder as authorities continue to search for those who carried out the slaying.

Westminster Police Department and Orange County District Attorney's Office officials at a news conference Tuesday announced the arrest of Magdi Girgis, 60, in connection with the killing of Ariet Girgis, stabbed to death in her Westminster home in 2004 while one of her sons was bound and gagged in another room.

At the time of the killing, Magdi Girgis, a respiratory therapist, was facing domestic-violence charges after being accused of assaulting Ariet Girgis. Authorities say a restraining order had also been issued against Magdi Girgis and that Ariet Girgis intended to divorce him.

Prosecutors say Magdi Girgis planned his wife's murder in order to avoid paying the cost of a divorce and to avoid a felony domestic-violence conviction that would result in the loss of his medical license.

"He wanted to keep all his money to himself," said Sonia Balleste, a senior deputy district attorney prosecuting the case.

Police said at least two people entered the Girgis residence in the early morning hours of Sept. 24, 2004.

One person entered 17-year-old Ryan Girgis' room, bound and gagged him, and forced him into a closet, police said.

The other person entered Ariet Girgis' bedroom, slashed her throat and stabbed her repeatedly, police said.

Ryan heard the people suspected in the killings leave in a car, broke free from his restraints and called police. They were gone by the time officers arrived.

Magdi Girgis was considered a person of interest since the beginning of the investigation, Westminster police Sgt. Cliff Williams said. However, it wasn't until Friday, more than eight years after his wife's death, that he was taken into custody.

In the interim, Magdi Girgis had been convicted of the domestic-violence charge in 2005 and was sentenced to a year in jail and five years of probation.

Investigators declined to specify what evidence tied Magdi Girgis to his wife's death.

"We feel very confident about the leads we do have," Williams said.

Westminster police Chief Kevin Baker at Tuesday's conference said investigators are pursuing the two people suspected in the killings and that additional arrests may be forthcoming. He declined to release any information on them.

The couple's sons, Richard and Ryan, described their mother as a loving and caring woman.

The brothers expressed relief that an arrest had been made in connection with their mother's death but sadness that authorities say their father was involved.

"It's been so long, we were worried it would never be solved," Richard said. "At the same time, it's sad our dad had something to do with it."

However, Ryan said their father's arrest did not come as a shock.

"All along, I knew he had something to do with it," Ryan said. "I'm just glad justice will be served."

Magdi Girgis has been charged with a felony count each of special-circumstances murder, conspiracy to commit murder and false imprisonment by violence, as well as potential sentencing enhancements for murder for financial gain and murder to prevent testimony.

If convicted, authorities say Magdi Girgis faces life in state prison without the possibility of parole and would be eligible for the death penalty.

Authorities say there is a $55,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. They are asking anyone with information to contact Westminster police at 714-898-3315, district attorney investigators at 714-347-8492, or to leave an anonymous tip with Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS or occrimestoppers.org.

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